WIFI Booster for wired connection

Kane100

Kane100

Kane100

Associate
Joined
28 Dec 2021
Posts
5
Location
Scotland
Hi, was hoping for some advice. I have recently upgraded from fibre to ultrafast fibre. Before the upgrade I had a PS3, PS4 and NOW TV box connected by ethernet directly to the router. However due to where the ultrafast comes in to the house a wired connection is not practical and I have connected these devices via wifi. The router is around 10 feet from these devices, with a direct line of sight. I am only getting speed of 16 mbps on the PS3 and 40 mbps on the NOW box and the PS4. Other devices around the house are getting around 100 mbps so I assume that the problem is with the wifi tech in these older devices.

To get round this I was thinking of using a wifi booster (Netgear N300) connected to an ethernet splitter (TP-Link TL-SG1005D) and then the three devices connected to the splitter.

Any opinions on whether or not this would significantly improve speeds and if so are the booster and splitter I have mentioned good choices. Thanks
 
As far as I know the PS3 uses the Wireless G standard which is limited to 54mbps as it's quite old at this point, so it will be severely limited by its own Wifi hardware. A booster isn't going to solve anything, especially if you're only 10ft away from the router as it is. The only real solution is hardwired to imprive speeds.
 
My thinking was that if the PS3 is hardwired from the booster then it is no longer depending on the WIFI hardware. If the booster is getting a good signal from the router then a wired connection from the booster to the ps3 should be faster than wifi. It makes sense in my head but open to ideas.
 
Kane100 said:
My thinking was that if the PS3 is hardwired from the booster then it is no longer depending on the WIFI hardware. If the booster is getting a good signal from the router then a wired connection from the booster to the ps3 should be faster than wifi. It makes sense in my head but open to ideas.
Click to expand...

Your thinking is correct - the best thing you can do will be to match whatever range extender you buy to your Router's wifi standard, to ensure the fastest possible connection between the two. E.g. the Netgear N300 you mentioned is pretty old tech.

Something like the below TPLink is considerably faster, although obviously other brands/models are available

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £58.69 (includes shipping: £8.70)​
​


Additionally, rather than a range extender and then a separate network switch ("ethernet splitter"), you can get combined units, but obviously they tend to be a little more expensive e.g.
https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/range-extenders/eax18/
 
I would also not pay too much attention to PlayStation network speed tests, I've never seen them get anywhere close to what the network is capable of.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Armageus, my router is a Fritzbox 7530 (not AX), i've googled this and it doesnt seem to support wireless 6, only AC & N. Is it still worth paying for the TP Link booster you recommended or is there a more suitable AC model. Thanks
 
There is an AC model of the TPLink extender (RE305), but it only features a 100Mbps ethernet port rather than gigabit, so will limit the connected devices even further, regardless of what speed the wifi link is. For that reason I'd stick with the RE505X, which should work fine with AC (as well as AX).

I've also added an 8 port version of the switch you've mentioned - for £3 more, it's always worth going for an 8 port model rather than a 5 port.

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £115.63 (includes shipping: £8.70)​
​
 
For the information of those who took the time to reply and anyone reading who may be in a similar position.

I decided to give my idea a try and ordered TP-Link RE505X AX1500 extender. The PS3 download speed has gone from 16 to 28 mbps and rhe NOW box from 40 to 78 mbps. Haven’t used a splitter/switch yet but I am happy with the improvement.
 
Or you could have got the Mikrotik Wireless Wire and cabled it from the switch and you would have got 1000Mbps full duplex/full internet line speed.

As long as you’re happy though.

Happy New Year!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom